Hogue Vein Institute

Frequently Asked Questions

Varicose Veins FAQ

What are varicose veins?

What causes varicose veins?

Wouldn't closing varicose veins just redirect flow into normal veins and make them also become varicose?

Hogue Vein Institute | Payment Options Does your body need all of its veins?

Ultrasound Evaluation FAQ

Why is it important for you to have a venous ultrasound evaluation?

What is an ultrasound evaluation like?

Endovenous Laser Ablation FAQ

What is endovenous laser ablation (EVLA)?

Can you exercise after the EVLA procedure?

Making an Appointment FAQ

How do I begin leg vein treatment?

Varicose Veins FAQ

What are varicose veins?
Varicose veins are enlarged veins that get that way as a result of faulty valves within the vein that allow the blood to reverse flow so that rather than bringing blood back up to the heart to be recirculated, the malfunctioning valves allow the blood within the veins to reverse flow thereby causing the veins to enlarge. The enlarged veins often lose their straight tubular shape and become tortuous, even appearing in clusters. The varicose veins can become symptomatic with patients often reporting burning, itching, tingling, fatigue, heaviness, cramping, aching, swelling, edema, and restlessness. Left untreated, symptomatic varicose veins can progress to more serious medical conditions including skin inflammation, skin ulcer, venous inflammation, and venous blood clots.

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What causes varicose veins?
Heredity is the number one factor causing varicose veins. An inherited weakness of the vein wall and vein valves contribute enlargement of normal veins such that they become varicose. Women are more likely to suffer from varicose veins, especially because of pregnancy and hormonal factors. In addition to family history and female gender, other aggravating factors predisposing to development of varicose veins include advancing age, obesity, trauma, intense weight-training exercise, and occupations involving prolonged sitting or standing.

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Wouldn't closing varicose veins just redirect flow into normal veins
and make them also become varicose?
Since varicose veins have abnormal blood flow, the surrounding veins are already being burdened by having to compensate. Treatment of abnormal veins actually removes this burden from the surrounding veins, thereby improving the venous circulation. This improvement in the venous circulation accounts for the improvement in varicose vein symptoms following effective varicose vein treatment. This is because the body redirects the blood flow into stronger, healthier, deeper veins within the legs.

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Does your body need all of its veins?
Since your body hasn't used these veins since they became abnormal, there is no reason to keep them.

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Ultrasound Evaluation FAQ

Why is it important for you to have a venous ultrasound evaluation?
In assessing symptomatic varicose veins, an expertly performed venous ultrasound evaluation by a Phlebologist plays a critical role. A venous duplex ultrasound evaluation is performed which permits the Phlebologist to see the anatomy and to map out the underlying leg veins. Useful information is gathered to diagnose your specific vein problem. After the Phlebologist makes an accurate diagnosis, an appropriate and effective customized treatment plan can be developed for you.

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What is an ultrasound evaluation like?
After applying ultrasound gel to the leg, a handheld device is passed back and forth to evaluate the underlying veins. Sound waves sent into the leg bounce back to the handheld device whereby the attached ultrasound machine displays them as a picture on a monitor. The ultrasound evaluation is painless and usually takes between 30 and 45 minutes to complete.

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Endovenous Laser Ablation FAQ

What is endovenous laser ablation (EVLA)?
The endovenous laser ablation procedure is performed by a physician vein specialist, also known as a Phlebologist. The EVLA procedure is done in a procedure room at one of our vein clinics and requires only local anesthesia. A very thin bare laser fiber is inserted into a varicose vein within the leg through a tiny skin puncture. Laser energy heats up the vein causing it to shrink and collapse. The venous blood flow is then routed to healthy veins within the leg muscles. Any residual branch veins remaining after the EVLA procedure are effectively treated by the Phlebologist using ultrasound guided sclerotherapy and/or visual sclerotherapy during follow up treatment sessions. Unlike surgical vein stripping where there is significant down time, patients treated with the EVLA procedure and/or with sclerotherapy have no down time, and can resume normal activities immediately.

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Can you exercise after the EVLA procedure?
Exercise is not only permitted following the EVLA procedure, it is encouraged. Immediately after the EVLA procedure, our patients walk on our clinic treadmill for 20 minutes. We find that patients who use their leg muscles every day after the EVLA procedure have faster healing, less discomfort, and fewer complications. The simplest and most effective form of exercise to optimize leg vein function is walking. We often have our patients abstain from running, jumping, heavy lifting, abdominal straining, swimming and bathing (showering is okay) for 1-2 weeks following the EVLA procedure.

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Making an Appointment FAQ

How do I begin leg vein treatment?
Call the Hogue Vein Institute at 1-866-356-VEIN to schedule your formal vein consultation. During the initial consultation, your legs will be examined and an ultrasound evaluation will be performed by one of our Phlebologists. Any questions you may have will be answered. You may also discuss your expectations and anticipated results. At this point, an estimate of the treatment sessions including follow up sessions, affiliated costs, and payment will be covered which will vary depending upon the size and extent of your problem. You should then be able to schedule your initial vein treatment procedure(s) and follow up treatment sessions with us at the Hogue Vein Institute.

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